The first day NFL teams can use the franchise and transition tags has come and gone, but much like your child's homework, or the filing of taxes, there's no desire to rush into anything.

Feb. 16 might be the first day each team can designate one player to be its exclusive or non-exclusive franchise player, or place the transition tag on the player in an attempt to keep other teams from bidding on the impending free agent, but it's not the only day. Each team has until 4 p.m. on March 1 to use their one tag.

That gives Miami exactly two weeks to hammer out a deal with pass rusher Olivier Vernon, who is Miami's prime candidate for the franchise or transition tag.

The transition tag for pass rushers was $11.94 million last season, and is expected to rise. The franchise tag is projected to be in the $15 million range because it was $14.8 million for pass rushers last year, and free agency should drive up the position's price tag.

Both the Dolphins and Vernon's agent, David Canter, a South Florida based agent, would rather hammer out a multi-year deal for the former University of Miami standout, who is universally viewed as one of the top 20 impending free agents in the 2016 crop of talent that might become available. However, the negotiations will likely be painful to the cap-strapped Dolphins because of the escalating price tag teams are placing on young pass rushers.

The Miami Dolphins could have 11 unrestricted free agents hit the market on March 9, the first day teams can sign free agents. Here’s a breakdown of the team's potential free agents, and the probability they return to the Dolphins in 2016.

(Chris Perkins, Keven Lerner)

Vinny Curry, a pass rusher who has produced 62 tackles, 16.5 sacks and forced four fumbles in his four seasons with the Eagles, signed a five-year, $46.25 million contract ($18 million is fully guaranteed) with the Eagles earlier this month. Last year Jerry Hughes got five-years, $45 million ($17.6 million guaranteed) from Buffalo.

Vernon, who turns 26 in October, finished last season with 61 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and a league-high 41 quarterback hurries. He led all 4-3 ends in quarterback hits with 30. During his four-year NFL career the Dolphins' 2012 third-round pick started 44 games, tallied 196 tackles, 29 sacks and forced three fumbles.

March 7-9: Teams can begin negotiating contracts with unrestricted free agents during this three-day window -- Contracts can’t be signed until 4 p.m. ET on March 9. Don’t expect the Dolphins...

Here is a detailed look at key upcoming dates on the NFL calendar and what they mean to the Miami Dolphins:

March 7-9: Teams can begin negotiating contracts with unrestricted free agents during this three-day window -- Contracts can’t be signed until 4 p.m. ET on March 9. Don’t expect the Dolphins...

(Chris Perkins and Keven Lerner)

The exclusive franchise tag would prevent another team from being able to bid on Vernon. The non-exclusive tag would require the team that signed him to give up a two first-round draft picks if Miami opts not to match the offer. The transition tag would strictly give Miami the right of first refusal to any offer sheet Vernon is signed to by another team.

The Dolphins used the transition tag on tight end Charles Clay last year and were unwilling to match the five-year, $38 million deal he signed with Buffalo, which featured $24 million in guaranteed money. Clay signed with the Bills and Miami received no compensation for his departure.

If Vernon is given the franchise tag it is doubtful that he'll sign it right away, and realistic that he'll skip Miami's offseason program, sending the franchise a message that a long-term deal is more appealing. July 15 is the deadline for a player to sign a franchise tag, but they could be a holdout for camp.